Shaft for golf clubs and the like



May 22, 1928.,

R. H. CQWDERY' SHAFT FOR GOLF CLUBS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 10, 1927 Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

BOBERTL H. COWDERY, OF GENEVA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN FORK & HOE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SHAFT FOR GOLF CLUBS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 10, 1927. Serial No. 167,112.

My invention relates to shafts for golf clubs, and the like, and relates particularly to metallic tubular shafts for implements for sport use.

Shafts of this general type have heretofore, commonly, been made of wood, hickory, being usually preferred because of its. flexibility, torsional characteristics, and resiliency, but such shafts are often quite fragile, variable in quality and susceptible to the effects of moisture, whereby warping of such shafts is quite commonly encountered. Such wood shafts are usually tapered and so shaped as to have their Wei ht and resiliency so distributed longitu 'nally of the shaft so that'the shaft is usually of gradually decreasing weight and resiliency from. the portions of greatest towardthe portions of least diameter.

Efforts have heretofore been made to produce golf club and other like shafts made of steel but these, so far as I am aware, have usually been too heavy and too rigid, or, when attempted to be so made as to be sufiiciently light, have been too fragile and improperly balanced in longitudinally disposed portions, in weight and resiliency.

It has been heretofore proposedto make golf shafts and the like in. two or three longitudinally aligned jointed sections, these sections being of steel tubing but such shafts have not, so far as I am aware, gone into use, their design being objectionable for the reason of improper distribution of Weight and weakness at the ioints whereby breakage, in use, is likely to occur. It has been proposed, likewise, to shape or form an ordinary cylindrical seamless steel tube of relatively low carbon content into continuously tapered form from the handle ends of the shaft to the head end thereof. The tube is subsequently case-hardened and heattreated; this isdone because it has been found impractical to draw a hardened steel tube into the tapered form desired for golf club shafts. However, shafts so produced riation in cross-sectional diameter thereof,

whereby the shaft will be most eflicient when p lriiployed in golf clubs, polo sticks and the Another object of my invention is to produce a metallic tubular sporting implement shaft of high resiliency which may be manufactured in quantities with uniform properties relating to weight distribution and resiliency longitudinally of the shaft, at a low cost of production.

While I do not Wish to limit my invention to any particular manner of producing the shaft of my invention, I preferably prepare my improved golf shaft, polo stick and the like, from a piece of metallic, preferably cylindrical, tubingof a normal diameter at least as large as the diameter of the handle end of the shaft to be formed, and I then locally successively compress wall portions of the tube according to a preferred process hereinafter more specifically described,

reference to the following description of a specific embodiment thereof, comprising a shaft for golf clubs and in which-description reference will be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating the said embodiment, and in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a golf club embodying my invention, in side elevational View;

Fig. 2 shows a fragment of the said golf club, the shaft being illustrated as being broken off near the head end, thereof, the view being enlarged and partly in section;

Fig. 3 illustrates a section-taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 illustrates in longitudinal, medial, sectional view, a drawing die of which a large number varying slightly in diameter of die-opening, each from the other, are preferably employed in the making of a golf shaft as illustrated in the foregoing figures;

Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically a plurality of such drawing dies with portions of golf shafts projected through the different dies to degrees relatively indicated by the diagrammatical view;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the shaft portion joining a pair of sections together.

Referring, now, to the different figures of drawing, and referring particularly, first, to Figs. 1 and 2, at 6, I show a golf club head of the so-called wooden type such as is commonly employed in golf clubs termed drivers, brassies, spoons, and the like, although within the purview of my invention I contemplate applying, in any wellknown or other improved manner, club heads of metallic or other material which may be suitable for the different purposes to which golf clubs are to be applied.

At 7, I show a hosel for such a golf club head 6 projecting angularly and upwardly from the heel 4 of the head and having an axial bore 3 through which the golf club shaft is projected and within which it is rigidly secured, the joint between the shaft and the hosel being made substantially rigid by virtue of the ,provision of the various instrumentalities illustrated and commonly employed for such a purpose, comprising the tape 8 which may be of leather or fabric material wrapped tightly around the end of the shaft and preferably impregnated with glue or other adhesive to cement the shaft to the walls of the bore 3, a'pin 9, a. securing screw 2, and a screw 1 projected upwardly from the bottom of the club head through the end of a wood plug 13 within the tubular end of the shaft 14 projected into the body of the head 6 as illustrated.

An exterior wrapping 10 is preferably employed according to the usual practice in order to prevent splitting of the material of the head hosel, in use, where the hosel is .made of wood. The shaft 14 comprises a plurality of sections of progressively redueed diameter and progressively increased wall thickness as the sections are disposed more and more remote from the handle end of the shaft 20 and as they are progressively nearer to the club head 6.

The shaft 14 is preferably made in a mansection 20, and that therefore the shaft will have more of the property of torsional and flexing resiliency in portions more adjacent the club head than in more remote portions. The intermediate joining portions, such as shown at 12, between the different successive shaft sections, as for instance the sections 13 and 14, Fig. 3, are inclined gradually to avoid an abrupt shoulder between the sections atthe point 12 which might be conducive to breakage of the shaft at the intermediate portions, and to form a strong trussed joint between the sections.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4, I i

show a necking die 5 adapted, when a section of golf shaft is projected through its bore 15, to compressively reduce the diameter of the shaft section; such a necking die comprises an annular side wall 16 with a tapered bore 15, the bore being of greatest diameter at an end herein called the mouth of the die, and being of least diameter at the throat portion 17 adjacent to, but slightly spaced from, the opposite end 18 of the die, the bore flaring outwardly from the throat efiecting a rounded working edge for the necking portion of the throat.

Each one of the dies such as that illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 differs from each of the other dies in its size of throat opening, and in the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated, I preferably provide about seventeen of these dies, having successively smaller throat openings to successively. operate upon a processed shaft in portions successsively nearer its smaller end.

In Fig. 5, I show diagrammatically a plurality of dies like that of Fig. 4, laterally disposed with reference to each other, being preferably, as shown. relatively displaced vertically so that when a shaft is being operated upon, forcing the shaft suc cessively through the dies to a given distance, indicated by the line 21, Fig. 5, beginning with the uppermost die 22 and thereafter through the dies 23 to 38, inclusive, that the dies will be successively telescoped over the shaft, the first die 22 compressing all of the shaft from the point 39 to the tip end, decreasing its diameter, in

- shaft then being passed through the die 5 section 40.

opening of the die 23 until its tip reaches the level 21, the die 23 being less elevated than the die 22, and its. die opening 17 being of slightly less diameter than that of the die 22, the second short section of golf shaft 40 adjacent the section of largest diameter 20 will be relatively .reduced in diameter and united to the section 20 by a shoulder 12 integrally joining the walls of the two sections by a curvilinearly tapered junction comprising an annular vertically convex portion next adjacent the larger tube section 20, and an annular vertically concave portion disposed adjacent adjoining the smaller The section next adjacent the section 41, next adjacent the section 40, and disposed more nearly toward the tip end of the shaft, is in like maner formed by projecting all of the shaft disposed toward the tip end thereof from the shoulder 12 joining the sections 40 and 41, throu h the die 24 which has a slightly smaller ie opening 17 than the die opening of the die 23. The other sections of golf shaft lying progressively nearer and nearer the tip. end of the. shaft are in like manner reduced in diameter progressively as the tip end of the shaft is approached, and the different sections are united with adj acent sections by the vertically curvilinearly formed shoulder junctions 12.

Each of the dies exerts a compressive action upon the shaft portions projected through it and, to some extent, an elongation of the shaft results from this compressive action, .the while the walls contracted are thickened. The elongation of the shaft may accomplish as much as a 10 percent increase .in length, and the wall thickness may be increased as .much as 30 per cent in increased wall thickness of the shaft section of least diameter over the wall thickness of shaft section of greatest diameter, although these values may be varied according to the distribution of metal desired. The apparatus for a method of formin the shafts as above described, is not claimed herein being claimed in a copending application filed by me, Serial No. 163050, filed January 24, 1927.

I find that chromium molybdenum steel alloy tubing, having a composition content as below given, expressed in parts of 1 per' cent of the total material content thereof, may be processed, in the manner above set forth, successfully :Carbon 28-.35, manganese .40.60, phosphorus. .04 maximum, sulphur .045 maximum, silicon .10.20, chromium .80-1.10, molybdenum .15.25, the balance of the alloy composition material being of iron. This material, whose chemical composition may be varied I find, when formed into a tube and processed as above described to provide a large number such as 18 relatively shortsections joined by the joining sections '12, as illustrated and above described, possesse s the properties.of temper, resiliency, and strength, which are highly desirable in a golf shaft, and that a golf shaft made, as de scribed, of such material, may be made considerably lighter for the same length of shaft of a given strength than steel shafts now ferent compositions, one being as above set forth and having a relatively high temper. I find it highly desirable that a metallic tubular golf. shaft be ofhighly tempered steel or like material, since, upon impact between the club head and a golf ball, the shafts of highly tempered steel, made in accordance with my invent-ion, effect a very superior result than less highly tempered steel shafts made in other ways, a more effective reaction accomplishing longer drives with less physical effort by the player using the shaft. The handle end of the shaft 20 will preferably be provided with a wrapping or cover of leather, or like material, as indicated in the drawing at 44.

After the shaft is completed, but before applying the handle or the head, I preferably apply a uniform coat of chromium to its exterior surface by an electroplating process, the process being preferably one in which the shaft is rotated continuously during the electroplating, whereby a very efficient coat of chromium may be applied to the exterior surfaces of the tube. I-find that chromium material applied in this way to the-shaft adds to the ability of the shaft to impart a stron blow to the golf ball, increasing the vi rational pitch of the shaft for its weight and accomplishing a more pleasing efiect upon the user of the club having such shaft.

It is to be noted by reference to Fig. 6, showing asection of a fragment of wall comprising a junction-portion 12 interconnecting a larger cylindrical section, such as 20, to a smaller cylindrical section 40, that at 45 adjoining the section 20 the wall curvature is convex at its outer surface and at 46 it is 45 and 46 is a curvilinear portion inclined at an angle preferably not in excess of degrees to the axis of the shaft and preferably inclined at an angle less than 45 degrees therefrom. This construction provides a trussed structure against distortion of the junction sections 12, and the golf shaft of longitudinal curvilinear formation to the junctions 12. The stepped construction with joining trussed junctions gives the shaft) more effective reaction when a blow is struck at an end of the shaft, than in the continuously tapered constructions with which I have been familiar in the past.

Also golf shafts constructed with integral truss junctions previously distributed at frequent intervals along the length of the'shaft subdues the metallic ringing tone which otherwise is had in tubular golf shafts where the relatively short stepped construction is not had, this being particularly true in golf shafts of seamless construction which possess better playing qualities, otherwise, than the shafts having a longitudinal seam.

Althou h I have shown eighteen relatively short sections of golf shaft, the number may be varied, but I find that the best results are not had unless the shaft has at least twelve sections, the sections otherwise being each so long as to prevent graduated fiexure gradually increasing throughout the length of the shaft from its handle portion to its head end, and also a fewer number of junctions are insufficient to properly subdue the ringing tone tending to traverse the shaft from its head to the handle. At the same time, the shaft having a lar er'number of short steps subdues mechanical vibrations lower in pitch than those having a tonal quality, and which. vibrations are unplesantly transmitted to thehands of the user when the shaft in other metallic tubular shafts.

I find that when the sections are materially less than six in number, the superior results accomplished by the shaft of .my inis in play,

. vention are not appreciably had and the mechanical and tonal vibrations are disagreeably transmitted. I prefer to have the length of the shaft divided into at least.

twelve sections, although as few as six'sections may advantageously be used. Heretofore shafts have been roposed having three Sections, but these sha ts are not as satisfactory as a continuously tapered shaft since they partake more of the nature of a cylindrical tube than of a tapered tube in the qualities relating to flexure, distribution of resiliency and distribution of weight, and at the same time retain practically all of the shafts.

Although the foregoing description has been had relating only to an embodiment of my invention comprising a golf club shaft, I contemplate the use of substantially fithe same construction comprising a tapered stepped tube for other sporting implements, such as for instance, polo sticks, billiard cues, and the like, and the scope of the appended claims is to be so construed, unless otherwise specifically limited. For polo sticks, I preferably make the shaft of fewer stepped sections than is the case of the golf club shaft above described, and of larger average diameter and of lesser average wall thickness. Ifind such a polo stick shaft possesses the desired qualitles of strength, resiliency, lightness and snap to a greater extent than the wood or bamboo polo stick shafts previously commonly in use.

Having described my invention in a specific embodiment, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodiment herein illustrated and described, but without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A shaft for sporting implements, comprising a seamless steel tube of relativelyhard resilient steel composition, comprising at least six axially aligned, integrally joined, substantially cylindrical short tube sections of progressively less and less diameters towards the head end of the shaft, the material of the shaft having the properties of a steel alloy comprising approximately .32 per cent carbon, .50 per cent manganese, .15 per cent silicon, .95 per cent chromium, .20 per cent molybdenum.

2. A shaft for sporting striking implements comprising a steel tube having all portions thereof intermediate the handle and head ends of the shaft of gradually reduced diameters as the head end of the shaft is a 1 proached, said shaft being seamless throug out and of a material having substantially the properties of a steel alloy comprising approximately .32 per cent carbon, .50 per cent manganese, .15 per cent silicon, .95 per cent chromium, .20 per cent molybdenum.

3. A shaft for sportin implements, comprising a steel tube of re atively hard resilient steel composition, comprising axially aligned, integrally joined,'substantially cylindrical, short tube sections of progressively less and less diameters towards the head end of the shaft, and comprising a film'of integrally secured chromium or like material to its exterior surface.

4. A tubular golf club shaft of hardened steel composition having an enlarged end adapted to support a hand grip covering, a relatively reduced tip adapted to be projected within the hosel of a golf club head,

and an intermediate stepped portion comprising at least six integrallyjoined sections of progressively less and less diameters preceding from the handle toward the tip, the shoulders formed at the junctions between the sections being rounded, the Wall thicknesses being progressively increased in sections nearer the tip.

5. A shaft for golf clubs or the like comprising a steel tube formed to have at least 1O integrally joined longitudinally disposed stepped sections, each section proceeding in order from the tip of the shaft towards the handle end being of greater diameter in all portions of its length than the preceding sec-- tion, the Wall thicknesses being progressively increased in sections nearer the tip.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alfix my signature this 31st day of January, 1927.

ROBERT H. GOVVDERY. 

